The imposing presence of Corfu’s Outdated Fortress, spanning architectural durations from Byzantine, Early Venetian and the Late Venetian eras, is the very first thing you discover when your ship docks right here. However the different motive to enterprise right here is to expertise the water itself. From Corfu to Croatia, the crystalline sea swirls round rock islands and jetties as if it had been an unlimited river flowing straight from the Alps to the Mediterranean. For the report, Corfu is an Ionian Island, nevertheless it lies simply off the west coast of mainland Greece the place the Adriatic blends into the Ionian Sea.
Those that respect structure, effective jewellery and a wonderful avenue scene could be tempted, as I normally am, to easily hang around and discover in Corfu City. However there’s extra to experiencing the island. Specifically, seashores tucked between limestone cliffs, coupled with water so clear and blue you are feeling compelled to the touch it to ensure it’s actual, make Paleokastritsa a draw for guests. And it’s a draw for Windstar visitors, too, on Corfu, Paleokastritsa and Boat Journey, that will get you out to the seashores and onto these waters. With its heart-shaped bay and views of the island’s central mountain vary, Paleokastritsa is claimed to be the spot the place Odysseus met Nausicaä in Homer’s Odyssey. It’s a story of unrequited love that provides to the enchantment of the area.
What’s the tour like?
The guided a part of the tour is round 4 hours lengthy and contains two stops plus simply over an hour whole on the tour bus. The go to to Paleokastritsa features a 45-minute boat experience and roughly an hour of free time. The second cease is for wine and snacks included within the tour, additionally lasting about an hour. The tour ends in Corfu City for impartial exploration and a return to the ship is by way of shuttle bus, not the tour bus.
At all times up for a ship experience of any variety, my husband and I selected this tour on our final Windstar cruise that included Corfu. The expertise started with a drive, a roughly 30 minute experience alongside the coast highway to the north of the port. We handed by means of vacationer areas and had a view of the previous Venetian leper colony on the Isle of Lazaretto. As soon as the highway turned away from the ocean and into the mountains, the inhabitants dwindled. Farms, principally olive groves, dotted the mountainside.
There are a number of seashores in Paleokastritsa; our tour took us to Agios Spiridon Seaside. To understand the great thing about the water right here, you need to get out on it. The shore tour boats had been small picket outboards. Every carried round 12 passengers on bench seats underneath a shade cover.
We spent 30-40 minutes touring a number of shallow caves (extra like grottos). The primary was Nausicaä’s Cave, named after Odysseus’ love curiosity. Probably the most well-known cave is named Blue Eye Cave, as a result of there’s an underwater gap within the rocks that lets daylight shine by means of, making the water glow an excellent blue. Our captain sang to us. We fed fish, took selfies, and admired the surroundings together with the number of boats within the two bays we visited.
Throughout our free time, we wandered the seashore, discovered a gelato stand (as a result of I have to) and shopped in a small market the place I purchased some native olive oil that turned out to be a number of the better of the journey. Our second cease on the tour was a restaurant perched on the cliffs above the bay, providing views of the seashores beneath. We had a tasty snack of Greek cheeses, olives, breads, and native wine. The restaurant used within the tour might change seasonally.
Returning to Corfu City
In English, most say Corfu City. In Greek, it’s Kerkyra (pronounced KER kee rah). It’s house to each a brand new and an previous fortress. Venetians constructed or added on to each. The power of the fortifications allowed Corfu to be the one a part of Greece not conquered by the Ottomans. After your Paleokastritsa adventures, you need to nonetheless have time to see the previous fortress, even simply from throughout the moat, known as the Contra Fossa.
Or contemplate strolling by means of a little bit of Outdated Corfu City (a UNESCO World Heritage web site). It’s a bustling space and fairly touristy, with a particular Italian vibe which you could credit score to its lengthy interval of Venetian occupation. The bougainvillea develop thick over doorways and throughout walkways all through Outdated City. Count on a number of outlets that includes native artisans, however these are outnumbered by the trinket sellers. As in most old-world previous cities, you may virtually all the time stroll far sufficient to flee the shopkeepers and right into a extra residential space the place the tempo slows significantly.
We discovered Spianada Sq., close to the ship’s shuttle pick-up, to be an idyllic spot to take a seat and sip a Mythos Lager (as one does on a lazy afternoon in Greece, proper?) Close to the middle of the sq. near the fountain, there are a handful of eateries alongside the road dealing with the park with outside seating. Menus vary from Italian and Greek to seafood. There are additionally espresso homes. The park gives a little bit of respite from the frenetic confines of the Outdated City streets. We loved folks watching whereas we waited for the bus again to our ship.
Inside ideas
What to put on: You aren’t prone to get moist on the boat experience. (You’ll stroll out onto a dock and step down into the boat.) However if you happen to plan to swim or splash round on the seashore, water sneakers are a good suggestion. There are restrooms the place you may change in to or out of swimwear. I wore fast-drying swim shorts with a rash guard that was appropriate for all components of the tour.
What to carry: For the boat experience, it’s greatest to make use of a lanyard in your sun shades. One in every of our journey companions misplaced hers leaning overboard staring into the clear water. A dry pouch to your cellphone would make taking pictures on the boat a bit safer, and a lanyard for that makes it even higher. Convey a seashore towel from the ship if you happen to plan to get moist. In case your water sneakers aren’t comfy for strolling, you might must carry an alternate pair for sightseeing in Corfu City, particularly in Outdated Corfu, the place the streets are uneven cobblestones. And don’t neglect your sunscreen.
Extra data: The tour is obtainable on most cruises that cease in Corfu, together with onboard Wind Surf between Athens and Venice and on Star Legend itineraries cruising between Athens and Barcelona or on its Star Collector: Winter Muse within the Mediterranean.